Vapor electric apparatus.



No. 831,401., PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906.

H. I. WOOD. I VAPOR ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED IA0B.31.1904:

WITH ESSE H oward d IOYML IHVEHTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

IIOVARI) I. WOOD, OF SGHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A-OORPORATION OF NEW-YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 1906,

A li tion filed March 81,1904. Serial N- 200,884-

.l'o all 10/1/0771 it may concern:

Be it known thatI, HOWARD I. WO0D, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vapor l llectric Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention comprises certain improvements in' the construction of vapor electric apparatus. The features of novelty are pointed out with particularity in the appended claims.

The invention itself, however, will be better understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, which represents, by way of illustration, one of the numerous embodiments which my invention may assume in practice.

The particular embodiment which I have chosen to illustrate my invention is a mercury-vapor lamp. The exhausted glass envelop of the lamp consists, as shown, of a relatively long tube 1 of indefinite length, enlarged at the top to form a condensing-chamber 2. The lower electrode or cathode consists of a body of mercury 3 or other suitable material contained in the lower end of the tube. The upper electrode in the present in-' stance is a small cylinder or tube 4, of carbon, artificial graphite, or the like. This electrode or anode is supported by a lass-incased wire 5, the upper end of whic passes through the wall of the enlargement or condensing-chamber 2 and constitutes a leadingin conductor. The glass casin or tube 6 for the wire or rod is at its top fused into the wall of the condensin -chamber and serves to hold the anode 4 rigldly at about the point where the main tube opens into the condensing-chamber.

An arm or projection 7, of glass, extends from the upper end of the tube 6. This projection incloses a wire 8, electrically connected to the conductor 5 and at its opposite end to a rin 9, of iron or the like. Within this ring 9 is oosely mounted a double-headed armature or core 10, the heads 11 and 12 of which serve to limit the motion'of the core with respect to the ring.

A filament 13, of carbon or other suitable material, is supported at its upper end from the upper end of which is fuse into the upper wa l of the condensin -chamber 2 and the lower end of which dips 1nto the mercury 3. This tube 17 incloses a conductor 18, which extends throughout the length of the tube and projects at its upper end through the walls of the condensing-chamber 2 to form a leadin -in conductor and at its lower end through the lower end of the tube 18 into the mercury 3. The glass-incased conductor 17 therefore furnishes an electrical connection to the mercury electrode 3. The arrangement shown, therefore, brings both the ingoing andoutgoing electrodes of the lamp together at the top of the lamp, and so does away with the necessity for an external lead for the lamp extending outside of the lamp to the lower leading-in conductor at the lower end of the lamp, as has heretofore been the practice.

Instead of inclosing the internal lead or conductor 17 in a glass tube the conductor may of course, if desired, be insulated with some vitreous or other suitable insulating coating or enamel.

In order to start the lamp, a solenoid or similar magnetic device 19 is arranged so as when excited to exert an attractive influence on the, core 10. The core when the solenoid is excited is therefore lifted and carrying with it the filament 13 causes a Withdrawal of the lower end of the filament from the mercury 3. The initial are thus started extends practically instantaneously up the tube along the filament and terminates at the anode 4. The lamp is then in operation.

The solenoid 19 may be connected in series with the lamp, as shown, or, if desired, it may be excited in any other suitable way. In the drawing I have represented the solenoid as connected at one end to the conductor 5 from the anode and at the other end to the conductin -tip 20 of an attaching-plug. The screw-shell 21 of the attaching-plug is connected, as indicated, to the lead 18. The parts are secured in place by means of cement 22, constituting a filling between the conducting parts of the attaching-plug and" the projecting corrugated member 23 of the lamp-tube.

It is evident that numerous changes may be made in the embodiment of my invention without departin from the principle thereof for which reason do not WlSh to be limite to the exactdetails shown and described.

at I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is 1. In a vapor electric apparatus, the combination 0:? an exhausted envelop, electrodes ateppesite ends of the envelop one at least of said electrodes being afluid, and insulated leads extendin each from the inside of one end oi the cave op, one lead dipping into the fluid: electrode and the other connected to the other, electrode.

2. A vapor -lamp having electrodes at 3 7+ osite ends of the tube, one of said eleetro" es ing a fluid, and leadini-in wires for said electrodes passing throng same end of the lamp-tube, one of said leadingin wires being connected with a conductor dipping into the fluid electrode. I A

3. In a'vaper electric apparatus, the com bination of an exhausted envelo an attaching plu affording terminals fort 1am and secure to the lamp envelop, a solenoi held in place by said plug, an armature for said solenoid, and a starting device controlled by said armature.

4. In a vapor electric apparatus, the combination of an exhausted envelo provided with electrodes at opposite ends tihereof and with leading-in conductors at the same end thereof, one of said electrodes being fluid, an attaching-plug secured to the lamp-envelop and having contact-surfaces electrically connected to the leading-in conductors, and an insulated electrical connection between the fluid electrode and one of the leading-in conductors.

5. In a vapor electric lamp, the combination of an exhausted envelop, electrodes therefor, a starting device eonsistin of a filament making a separable contact with one of said electrodes, an attaching-plug secured to the lam -envelop, and affording terminals for the amp, and electrical connections between the attachingplug and the electrodes of the lamp.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of March,'1904.

HOWARD}. WOOD. Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, 

